BPAPM Students Attend Conference in Berlin

Two students in the Public Affairs and Policy Management program were part of a Carleton University delegation attending the 2018 Scholars at Risk (SAR) Global Congress in Berlin recently.

Students Danny Albert and Sam Turgeon-Brabazon, both in third-year, are involved with the Carleton Students for Scholars at Risk group, one of the most active student SAR groups at a Canadian university. The university’s SAR committee and the student SAR group work hand-in-hand to raise awareness of the importance of academic freedom.

Law and Legal Studies Prof. Melanie Adrian, chair of the Carleton SAR committee, and Norah Vollmer, from the Office of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), rounded out the delegation.

“Carleton University was well represented at the Global Congress,” says Prof. Adrian. “The university began sponsoring scholars at risk in 2015 and will welcome its fourth scholar in the summer.”

It was important for Carleton to participate in the Global Congress, says Adrian, because SAR groups from around the world will be sharing their experiences at a time when scholars in many countries are facing unimaginable circumstances. The students will hear first-hand the important role that the SAR program plays and the positive impact it generates.

“The Global Congress happens every two years and so much changes in that time. This offered us an invaluable opportunity to gain a better understanding of the challenges other institutions and colleagues face around the world and how the SAR initiative can best help,” adds Adrian.

Sam Turgeon-Brabazon agrees.

“At the Congress, I enjoyed learning about what other students, academics, and institutions are doing to promote academic freedom around the world. I look forward to sharing this information upon our return and contributing to the betterment of our academic community,” says Turgeon-Brabazon.

“I was incredibly excited to have the opportunity to represent Carleton at this conference. I enjoyed learning from and networking with like-minded students and human rights advocates,” adds Danny Albert. “While I am looking forward to every aspect of the trip, I think I am most excited for the keynote address. Having the chance to learn from scholars we have studied at Carleton is amazing!”

This year’s Global Congress took place April 23 to 26. Carleton was one of 13 Canadian universities that will be represented in Berlin.

The Carleton University Scholars at Risk Committee facilitates, implements and supports all aspects of hosting scholars at risk at Carleton University, as well as supporting other activities that relate to the scholar at risk initiative.

The Committee works with the Scholars at Risk (SAR) network, the Scholar Rescue Fund (SRF) and other organizations dedicated to protecting threatened scholars, preventing attacks on higher education communities, and promoting academic freedom worldwide.